One of the problems I think people run into with planning pantries is drawing them as a big open space and not accounting for the shelves. The spaces are a lot smaller once you draw them in. You can put shelving easily in an "L" shape, but with no return on the wall perpendicular to the door putting shelves there isn't going to be the best. Maybe 6" deep. You also don't need a pocket door with your current layout and I think generally its best to avoid pocket doors unless they are needed.

I like the pocket door, but you could also just have a slider mounted on the inside of the pantry. I think that's a nice look if you will be keeping the pantry open as you prep and cook. Maybe I haven't had enough coffee today, but I don't understand DeB's shelving set-up; I'd do this:

Red box is light switch.

I was thinking of 14” deep shelves in the L with a 18” deep countertop along the exterior wall (14”deep shelves above). This would give me a place to set things down when loading or unloading the shelves. If I used a regular door I could hang the step stool on the inside of the door!

Mama goose, I commented before I saw your second post. I will have to think about the type of door that will work best. Thanks for the points about different doors Dr.B and Mama. Where you show the shelving is the same as Dr. B’s, I think☺️

I was trying to say you'd have to setup the shelves in L" shape rather than "U" thus not taking advantage of storage on all 3 walls (which is what mamagoose drew). Seems like OP understands that already though.

I was going to comment on the pantry door too, just a reminder that you won't be able to use a wall with a pocket door for shelving (not that you were going to.) I thought that a pocket door wall might need to be thicker than standard wall but I Googled and found this (just in case you need the info): Standard pocket door kits are 3.5" wide, the same width as a 2X4, since most walls are framed this way. You can get the kits for 2X6 framing which would be the 5.5" width you looked at. Unless you need the extra width, get the standard 3.5" thick kit.

Good point about mounting shelves, Chicagans. I do plan on having shelves come up to that wall, but they should be supported by the exterior wall.

Remember, you'll only really have about 2' of shelving in the short arm of the L, but it's still a fine walk in pantry location. I put a pocket door in mine too, because most of the time it's left open; I only close it if I'm having guests.

With an in-swing pantry door, 18" on the back wall would be cutting it close, even with a 28" door.

You say that this is a lake house. What will you store in this pantry? You can certainly store canned goods, but paper goods and grains might be problematic in a house that is not always occupied. It's amazing what wee critters can get in and make themselves at home.

Anglophillia, this will be our full time house. ☺️